When You Need Help, Call Bryant

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Known on the North Shore for his willingness to lend a helping hand, Haleiwa resident Lee Bryant was recently honored for his kindness by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Bryant received the Holomua Award from the NSCC, an award given to those who improve their property through renovation and/or restoration and, as a result enhance the overall business climate of the community.

“He’s done a ton of pro bono work,” said Antya Miller, the chamber’s executive director.“He’s constantly doing stuff in the community. He’s one of our unsung heroes, an amazing person.”

Bryant admitted that he was “pretty excited” about the award. “It’s kind of cool,” said the Waialua Community Association trustee. “I don’t usually ask for too much in return for stuff.”

He owns North Shore Equipment Rentals, a Waialua company that rents concrete tools, U-Hauls, trucks, trailers and the like. Because of his access to this type of equipment, he is willing and welcome at community service projects, including restoration work at Haleiwa gym, providing a flatbed truck for an elementary school Christmas parade float and landscaping for The Outdoor Circle.

As part of the gym restoration, a septic tank was installed to replace the old cesspool. Bryant and his employees did all the digging for the leach field and worked with a plumber to hook it up, Miller noted.

A husband and father of two young daughters, Bryant said he enjoys helping others - a trait his mother instilled in him and he is instilling in his own keiki.

Growing up in a poor Irish family has shaped him into the person he is today, he added. “Anything to help out, I do. You get 10 times back what you put in. It’s just nice to help out. Plus, it’s pretty small here - we’re available if things come up when they (the community) need help.”

He also likes recruiting his own employees to assist him with community work, hoping they’ll catch the good-deed bug.“If I try to teach my employees the same, I bring them on a lot of (volunteer projects) in order to teach them over time if they go into business themselves.”